Chris Ransom grades the Green Bay Packers 2015 NFL Draft. Did Ted Thompson outsmart the rest of the NFC North on Draft Day?
30. Damarious Randall, FS, Arizona State B Grade
I originally gave the Packers a Who got Ted Thompson drunk draft grade. After seeing Randall do well in rookie Minicamps and OTA's I've moved this up to a B grade even though he's still listed as a third string free safety behind HaHa Clinton-Dix and Micah Hyde.
Damarious Randall can play man, zone, or press coverage. He also has the versatility to play anywhere on secondary at cornerback, free safety, or strong safety. Randall has a high football IQ.
Randall has a high football IQ. The downside is he's only played free safety in college and is undersized at 5-11 190 lbs. I'm puzzled as to why the Packers took a safety. If the Packers really wanted a safety they could have added Landon Collins out of Alabama.
Randall was not projected to go in the first round. Despite his projection, Green Bay looked past that.
62. Quinten Rollins, CB, Miami Ohio A Grade
Quinten Rollins has been very productive. Right now he's projected to start across from Sam Shields which is why this pick got an A+ grade.
Rollins played point guard at Miami Ohio on the basketball team where he led the Redhawks in steals prior to switching to football in 2014 making him a two sport athlete. Green Bay had Rollins graded out as a first round pick and they still landed him in Round 2 which really makes you wonder if Randall was graded out as a top 25 talent on Green Bay's draft board because the Packers took Randall in the first round.
94. Ty Montgomery, WR, Stanford A Grade
Ty Montgomery is not a starting receiver. He's an outstanding backup though, and he will thrive if he gets an opportunity to catch passes from Aaron Rodgers. I think replacing Jarrett Boykin was the perfect scenario for Montgomery.
129. Jake Ryan, 3-4 MLB, Michigan A- Grade
Jake Ryan has the versatility to play 3-4 outside linebacker on either side or 3-4 middle linebacker. Green Bay needs a guy like this, and the Packers are so thin at 3-4 middle linebacker, that Jake Ryan might start right away as a rookie which is why this pick got bumped up to an A- grade.
147. Brett Hundley, QB, UCLA A+ Grade
Brett Hundley will come in and be the backup to Aaron Rodgers right away. If Rodgers goes down with an injury, then Hundley will get a chance to start and persuade teams to trade for him if he plays well.
206. Aaron Ripkowski, FB, Oklahoma D Grade
Doesn't Green Bay still have John Kuhn? If Kuhn is gone this pick makes sense. If Kuhn is still a Packer than this was a waste of a pick.
210. Christian Ringo, 3-4 RE, Louisiana Lafayette C Grade
Green Bay never found a replacement to Cullen Jenkins at 3-4 right end. Maybe Christian Ringo will be the answer if he can unseat Mike Neal who is the current 3-4 right end.
213. Kennard Backman, TE, UAB D Grade
Green Bay needed a tight end. Kenner Backman is more of an H-Back and a special teams blocker rather than a tight end. That's why this pick got a D grade.
Green Bay Packers Team Grade: B- Grade
Green Bay got a B- grade. This was a solid draft. The Packers boosted their secondary with Randall and Rollins. Adding Hundley as a backup to Aaron Rodgers was also awesome. The rest of this draft had solid, but not spectacular picks and that won't cut it when your division rivals like the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, and Detroit Lions aced this NFL Draft with flying colors.
Green Bay Packers 2014 NFL Draft Grades
Posted By Chris Ransom on 5/26/2014
Chris Ransom breaks down the Lions Packers NFL Draft grades.
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